Second place draws wide range of emotions

CLOVIS  Second place can be both an exhilarating experience or somewhat of a disappointment.

Just depends on where you stand before you are handed the silver medal.

Patrick Henry’s Ryan Urie, for example, was not expected to even make the boys 1,600 final so when he let only Los Angeles Loyola’s Elias Gedyon sprint past him, he was elated.

Torrey Pines’ Alli Billmeyer, who was the state leader in the girls metric mile, also finished second after being one of the favorites to win and was less than pleased with her performance.

“I guess two is my number — I finished second in (San Diego Section),” said Urie, the Patriots junior who clocked a 4:21.84 in the race that no one wanted to lead until Urie himself forged in front and for just an instant appeared poised to steal a gold medal.

But with 200 meters to go, Gedyon started his move from ninth and roared past to win in 4:21.12.

“I knew he’d be coming, I just wondered when,” said Urie, a junior. “Just when I thought maybe he wasn’t coming, he went past me. My goal today was just to get on the podium (top 6), so I’m very happy.”

Second was three places better than the fifth she ran last year, but Billmeyer had her sights set on first. Curtis held on to win in 4:46.63 while Billmeyer recorded her second-best time ever at 4:47.79.

Yearly bests

Over the weekend, San Diego athletes recorded seven yearly section bests.

Two section records — the 10:20.25 by RB’s Molly Grabill in the girls 3,200 and Kortney Ross’ 13-6 in the pole vault led the way in Saturday’s finals.

In the prelims Friday, Granite Hills’ Kevin Finley lowered his 300-meter hurdle time to 37.18 seconds, No. 7 all-time in section history and actually recorded a PR in the 110-meter highs at 13.90, but that mark was wind-aided.

Unsung Justin Freeman of Carlsbad recorded the section’s fastest 100-meter time at 10.63 but it wasn’t quick enough to make the loaded finals.

For the girls, Santa Fe Christian’s Jenna Puterbaugh trimmed her 100-meter best to 11.69,

the fifth fastest time in section history while Vista’s Danielle Littleton roared to a 14.14 in the 100-meter hurdles, just .01 off her section record set a year ago.

West Hills’ Alexa Evans tossed the discus 148-4, adding a foot onto her previous best, moving to No. 4 all-time in the section.